Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

Presentation

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a tactical action game set in the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It returns to Fódlan, its three major powers and many familiar characters, but tells an alternate story built around a new protagonist.

The player takes the role of Shez, whose gender can be chosen. After suffering a crushing defeat against the mysterious Ashen Demon, Shez survives thanks to Arval, an entity only they can see and hear.

Soon afterward, Shez meets Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude. Choosing to join the Black Eagles, Blue Lions or Golden Deer then determines the overall direction of the adventure and the faction supported during the war.

The game replaces the turn-based tactical battles of Three Houses with real-time musou-style combat. The player directly controls a fighter and faces large numbers of enemies using combos, special attacks and techniques tied to each class.

The strategic aspect remains important, however. From the battle map, players can issue orders to allied units, telling them to attack an enemy, defend a position, protect an ally or capture a stronghold.

The player can also switch instantly between controlled characters during battle in order to intervene directly in another part of the battlefield.

The Fire Emblem class system is retained in a form adapted to action gameplay. Characters can learn different classes, improve their mastery and gain new skills and attacks.

Advantages tied to weapons and classes still influence combat. Choosing the right fighters against specific enemy types makes it easier to control the battlefield.

Two characters can also be paired through the Adjutant system. The partner then provides support and can notably help trigger powerful combined attacks.

Between missions, the player returns to a base camp used to prepare the army. Equipment can be upgraded, characters can train, classes can be unlocked and facilities can be improved.

Relationships between allies also remain important. Sharing meals, completing certain tasks or going on expeditions helps strengthen bonds and unlock new conversations.

Progression takes place across a war map made up of territories and successive battles. Side missions allow regions to be conquered, resources to be gathered and different advantages to be obtained before major confrontations.

Key points

• An alternate story set in the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
• Shez as the new protagonist.
• Arval, a mysterious entity linked to Shez.
• The Ashen Demon as a major rival.
• Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude at the center of the three paths.
• Three routes tied to the major powers of Fódlan.
• Real-time musou-style combat.
• The ability to control several characters during the same battle.
• Tactical orders can be issued to allied units.
• Strongholds, objectives and battlefield control remain essential.
• A system of classes, weapons and skills.
• Unit-type advantages influence combat.
• The Adjutant system allows two fighters to be paired.
• A base camp for training, equipment and relationships.
• A war map made up of territories and side missions.

Conclusion

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes transforms Fódlan's tactical battles into large-scale action encounters while retaining a significant part of the series' strategic identity.

The player does more than defeat groups of enemies: units must also be positioned, advantages exploited, objectives captured and control switched quickly between characters as the battlefield evolves.

The initial choice between Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude also shapes a new version of Fódlan's war, with Shez and Arval at the heart of events that differ from those of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Good to know

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja, with the involvement of Intelligent Systems, and published by Nintendo.

The game was released on June 24, 2022 exclusively for Nintendo Switch.

It tells a different story from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, built around Shez and three diverging paths corresponding to Fódlan's major powers.

Combat combines the action of the Warriors series with tactical mechanics: team preparation, unit advantages, orders given to allies, stronghold capture and real-time character switching.

Between battles, the base camp allows players to develop relationships, buy and upgrade equipment, unlock new classes, train and improve facilities.

The game also allows certain battles to be played in local two-player split-screen co-op.

A free demo allows players to progress up to Chapter 4, with save data transferable to the full game.

This entry focuses on the main campaign, Shez, Arval, the three routes, musou combat, tactical orders, classes and the base camp of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, without detailing every character, mission or branching path.